Originally Posted by RST
I think that some quilters are more craftsmanlike, while others are more art-oriented.
I think there is a higher level of artistry in designing your own pattern, selecting all your own colors and textures quilt stitching, than in copying a pattern. Not to say that a quilt made following a pattern or a traditional block is not artistic, but the person making it is falling more in the realm of the crafts(wo)man.
RST
I agree, because I do not consider myself to really be an artist. I don't always follow a pattern, but I know there are so many people who quilt that are truly artists, and I personally don't feel that I fall in that category. My great grandmother was a comercial artist, but I don't think any of it rubbed off on me. lol. My brother and my son are both very artistic, can look at something and draw it. They can do this after seeing something and a year or so later draw it, increasing or reducing it in size etc., because they still have the pic. in their mind. I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler. lol. I just consider my sewing and quilting and the results as years of practice and work, that I love doing. I don't disagree with everyone else, I am strictly speaking of myself. However, when I was baking and decorating cakes for others years ago, I could put almost any pic. I wanted on a cake using cake frosting and have it look like the pic. or item, but can't draw it with paper and pencil or brush, so in that area, I consider myself to have some artistic ability.